Punched card machines



Dec. 22, 1959 Filed Sept. 21, 1954 U. BALDEI PUNCHED CARD MACHINES 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Dec. 22, U. BALDE PUNCHED CARD MACHINES Filed Sept. 21, 1954 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 ULYSSE BALDE ATTORNEY Dec. 22, 1959 BALDE 2,918,123

PUNCHED CARD MACHINES Filed Sept. 21, 1954 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Jig PUNCHED CARD MACHINES Ulysse Bald, Zurich, Switzerland, assignor to Mithra A.G., Zurich, Switzerland Punched card machines are known which sense the punched cards during their movement, and others which carry out the sensing when the cards are stationary. With both types of punched card machines there are constructions with which also the punching of the cards is possible, by way of example on the basis of data already fixed on the cards in the form of punched holes. During the punching operation the cards are always stationary.

These known punched card machines have the disadvantage that the cards have to be moved between the sensing and the punching operation, as the elements for sensing and the elements for punching are located at different points of the machine. Thus it has hitherto not been possible, for instance for checking purposes, to re-sense the cards immediately after the punching operation, as the newly punched cards had first to be fed to the first or to a further sensing point for this purpose. Thereby, by way of example, the arithmetical evaluation of numerical data already punched on the cards is rendered more difiicult and complicated, if some of the intermediate results are in turn also to be fixed on the cards by punching.

The present invention has as its main object the elimination of the deficiencies described and relates to a punched cards machine for sensing the punched cards while they are stationary and for punching the cards. The machine according to the invention is characterized in that the elements for sensing and the elements for punching are designed and arranged in such a manner that these two operations can be carried out without any intervening displacement of the respective cards.

Preferably elements arranged concentrically within each other are provided for the sensing and the punching operations. An advantageous embodiment of the punched card machine described, is characterised in that each of the locking pawls locking the punches has a locking face cooperating directly with a head at the rear end of the associated punch; that all punches are constructed alike, and that the locking pawls of those punches which are arranged side by side in a row have different lengths and are connected to the electromagnets by rodshaped links, all of which run in a plane parallel to the said row at least approximately at right angles to the longitudinal direction of the punches.

Conveniently the locking pawls are pivotally mounted two armed levers, and the ratio of the distances from the pivot axis to the articulation point of the associated link, and from the pivot axis to the locking face are equal for all locking pawls.

By way of example two embodiments of the present invention are shown in the drawings accompanying and forming part of this specification, in Which:

Fig. 1 is a cross-section through an embodiment of a punched card machine for sensing and punching the cards,

Fig. 2 is a part of Fig. 1 to an enlarged scale and partly in section during the sensing operation of a card, and

States Patent Fig. 3 a part of Fig. 2 during the punching operation of a card.

Fig. 4 shows a cross section through part of another embodiment of a punched card machine for sensing and punching the cards.

In the punched card machines hitherto most commonly used the punched holes are arranged in horizontal rows and in vertical columns, there being, by way of example, twelve rows and forty columns, although the number of each may be smaller or larger as desired. The machine shown is designed for twelve lines, and in Fig. l the elements for sensing and punching one column are shown. Twelve punches 20 for punching the holes are guided for axial displacement in the vertical direction by the perforated bars 21. The rear and top end of these punches is provided with an enlarged portion 22 which limits the downward movement of the punch b-y abutment against the upper perforated bar 21. All the punches 20 are axially and concentrically bored through and a pin 23 serving for the sensing operation passes through each of them. The pins 23 are mounted on an assembly plate 26 for axial displacement by means of the guide members 24 and 25. At its top end each pin 23 carries a pressed-on cylindrical member 27 (Fig. 2) which limits the downward movement of the pin by abutment against one of the guide members 24. According to Fig. 1 the pins 23 are of various, stepped length so that the top ends of the pins are at different levels, whereas in their position of rest the bottom ends of said pins are all at the same level. A ball 28 is fitted in a recess in each cylindrical member 27. Twelve doublearmed levers 29 are mounted on the assembly plate 26 for rocking about the pivot 30. One of the lever arms of the levers 29, the one directed towards the right in Figs. 1 and 2, has an extension in the form of a leaf spring 31 resting from above against one of the balls 28 under the action of an associated tension spring 32. The other, rigid arm of the levers 29 has a semi-spherical head 33 of insulating material at its end. Above and below each of these levers 29 contact springs 34 and 35 respectively are fixed to the plate 26 by means of the small insulating blocks 36. These springs have electric contact members cooperating with each other, these contact members being in contact with each other in the position of rest of the associated parts. If one of the pins 23 is pushed upwardly against the action of the associated spring 32, the associated lever 29 carries out a rocking movement, whereby its insulated head 33 presses the lower contact spring 35 out of contact with the respective upper spring so that the electric connection is interrupted. Between individual adjacent levers 29 two further contact springs 37 and 38 are provided, these two springs being secured to the plate 26 by means of the insulating blocks 36 and provided with electric contact members cooperating with each other. By means of the insulating pins 39 and 40 each of the springs 38 is coupled to the next-higher contact spring 35. Thereby results that when the respective pins 23 are operated the contact springs 37 and 38 are separated, as is clearly shown in Fig. 2.

Each of the contact springs 34, 35, 37 and 38 is connected to an associated terminal strip 41 through an electric conductor not shown, said strips being fixed to the assembly plate 26 by means of an insulating bar 42.

Between the punches 20 and the cylindrical members 27 the pins 23 are each surrounded by two tubes 43 and 44 screwed into each other in such a manner that said pins can slide in said tubes. The tubes 43 and 44 are mounted for axial displacement in the guide members 25 already mentioned. At their top end the lower tubes 44 are each provided with an enlarged portion 45 which can rest on one of said guide members 25. The top tubes 43 are' each surrounded by a coil compression spring 46 which bears against the enlarged portion 45 at one end and against the top guide member 25 at the other end and thus tends-to pushthetubes 43 and 44 joined to each other downwardly." Thereby the punches 20. are also pushed downwardly, as the bottom end of the tubes 44 lies close above the punch arranged below it. The tubes 43 are of various, stepped lengths so that their topends are at different levels. At their top end the tubes 43 are each provided with a pressed-on sleeve 47. 7 By means of the pins 48 twelve pawls 49 are pivotally mounted on the plate 26, said pawls being capable ofv having their downwardlydirected portion swung towards the sleeves 47 in order to lock the tubes 43 and 44 and thus too the punches 20 against upward movement. In Fig. 2 it can be seen clearly that this locking takes place in a shape-conformity manner, when the pawls ,arein their operative position, i.e. no force need be, applied to the pawls in order to prevent upward movement of the parts 43, 44 and 20. The lever arm of each pawl 49 extending upwarly is coupled to the armature 51 of an electro-magnet 52 by means of a link 50. The links 50 are arranged at least approximately horizontal and are thus at right angles to the longitudinal axes of the punches 20 and the pins 23. The electro-magnets 52 are arranged laterally to the pins and punches, namely, according to Fig. 1, six on one side and six on the other side, where they are secured to the plate 26. The longitudinal direction of the magnets 52 is parallel to the longitudinal'axes of the punches and the pins. The armature 51 of each magnet 52 is mounted pivotally and is under the coercion of a tension spring 53 which tends to swing the armature away from the coil of the magnet and thus to move the pawl 49 into the non-operative position. The coil of each magnet is connected to two terminal strips 41 by electric conductors not shown in the drawing.

[For each column in which holes can be punched on the cards there is a plate 26 provided with the elements shownin Fig. 1. All these plates rest in slots of the supporting members 54, 55 and 56, and can be individually removed by being lifted out. A further supporting member, 57 locks the plates against unintentional upward movement. On the supporting member 56 insulating strips 58 are mounted for hinging about a bolt 59, one such strip being provided for each plate 26 and each strip having the contact strips 60, each cooperating with {strip 41. .From the strips 60 electric conductors not illustrated lead to further parts of the punched card machine not shown in the drawing for the evaluation of the sensed, punched cardsand for controlling the magnets 52 respectively according to the holes to be punched. If one of the plates 26 has to be taken out for the purpose of checking or the like, the electric connections can be broken by simply swinging the strip 58 into the position' shown by dash-dot lines.

Below the punches 20 and the pins 23 there is a perforated plate 61 which can be raised parallel by means known and not shown in the drawing for the purpose of bringing an inserted card into contact with the pins 23 and the punches 20 respectively. In doing so the punches and pinscan plunge into the perforations of plate 61.

I The mode of operation of the punched card machine described is as follows:

A card A (Fig.2) to'be sensed is laid von the plate 61, whereupon said plate is raised. Thereby the punched card A is moved from the position shown by a dash dotline in Figs. 2 and 3 into the position represented by full lines. When the card has reached the position according to Fig. 2, the bottom ends of the pins 23 pass through the holes already provided in the card, as is shown for a single hole in Fig. 2. The rest of the pins are pushed upwardly by the card. In the positionof rest the pins project out of the punches 20 at have to move through, until the bottom ends of the pins and of the punches are flush, is sufficient to actuate the contacts 34/35 and 37/38 respectively. Whilst according to Fig. 2 the left-hand pin remains inoperative, the other two are moved and thereby the contacts coupled to them are opened.

When the card A has reached its position represented by full lines in Fig. 2, only the contacts, such as 34/35 and 37/38, associated to the pins that have met a hole are closed, whilst all the other contacts are open. By way of example through the previously mentioned electric conductors (not shown), an electronic calculating machine of well known type (not shown) will now be operated through the closed contacts, so as to perform, e.g., the multiplication of two numbers represented by the holes of two different rows of the punched card. The output of the calculating machine will energize one or more magnets 52 through not shown electric conductors, and these magnets will cause the punched card to be perforated in a row, that until then has no perforations, so that the new holes in this row will represent the product of the said two numbers. Thus, if by way of example, the second magnet 52 from the left is energized, the pawl 49 coupled to its armature 51 swings into the path of motion of the sleeve 47, as is shown in Fig. 2. If the card A is raised still further intothe position shown in Fig. 3, the second punch 20 from the left cannot take part in this movement as it is prevented from doing so by the associated pawl 49. It therefore punches a new hole into the card A. The third punch, on the other hand, can take part in the movement of the card without hindrance and therefore produces no hole. As soon as a new hole has been punched into the card, the corresponding pin 23 returns into its position of rest and thereby closes the associated electric contact and contacts respectively. The machine re-senses the card immediately after a punching operation which fact can be utilized or not for verifying the punching with the aid of the calculating machine.

Between the first sensing operation and the punching operation the cards need not be moved, but remain in the same place. Thus-the operations of sensing and punching can be repeated as often as desired which allows new possibilities of evaluation and application of the punched cards; As sensing and punching takes place practically simultaneously, considerable saving of time also results. However, the machine can also be adapted in such a manner that the sensing and punching oper-' ations take place consecutively, the cards, however, remaining always at the same place.

' Referring now to Fig. 4 the holes of the punched cards are, as well known, usually arranged in horizontal rows and in vertical columns, the number of rows amounting for example to twelve, and the number of the columns for example to forty, which numbers can however be smaller or larger, as desired. The machine illustrated is constructed for twelve rows, and in the drawing the elements for the sensing and those for the punching of a single column are represented. Twelve punches 120 for the producing of holes are guided in the vertical direction axially shiftable in perforated plates 121.. The rear and upper end'of each punch 120 has an enlarged head 122 which limits the downward movement of the punch by abutting on the upper perforated plate 121. All of the punches 120 are axially bored, and each is penetrated by a needle 123 serving for the sensing operation. The upper ends of the needles 123 are. guidedin a guide ledge 124 which is fixed to an assembly plate 126. Above the guide ledge, the needles 123 are each provided with a head 127, which limits the downward movement'of the needle by abutting on the guide ledge 124. All thepunches 120 and the heads thereof," 122 are constructed alike, likewise all needles bottomto such an extent that the path of the. l23'and the heads thereof, 127.

Between the assembly plate 126 and a bearing plate 130 attached thereon at a distance twelve two-armed levers 131 are pivotally mounted on pins 132. These levers 131 serve as locking pawls in order to be able to secure the punches in the lower operative position against a movement in the upward direction. For this purpose each locking pawl 131 has at its lower end a locking face 134, which can cooperate with a shoulder 135 of the head 122 of the associated punch 120. All the locking pawls 131 which are associated with the punches 120 are arranged side by side in a row, i.e. with the punches of one column, have different lengths, namely in such a manner that they gradually increase in length from one end of the row of punches to the other end thereof. With increasing length of the locking pawls 131 their pins 132 serving for pivoting the same, too, are gradually arranged higher up. The ratio of the distances from the pivot axis of the pin 132 to the locking face 134, and from the pivot axis to an articulation joint 136 at the upper end of the locking pawl is the same for all locking pawls.

By the aid of the articulation joints 136, rod-shaped links 140 are connected to the locking pawls 131 which links run at least approximately at right angles to the longitudinal direction of the punches 121) and of the needles 123, and depart from the locking pawls in that direction in which the smaller locking pawls are situated. All these links 140 are associated with the punches arranged in one row, run in a plane which is parallel to the last mentioned row, and accordingly parallel to the assembly plate 126.

Likewise on the assembly plate 126 twelve electromagnets 141 are mounted, two of which only are illustrated in the drawing. These magnets have an elongated coil 14-2 and an armature 144 arranged laterally thereof and pivoted about a pin 143. The longitudinal direction of the magnets runs parallel to that of the punches 120 and needles 123. The moveable end of each armature 144 is articulated by a joint pin 145 to one of the links 140. On the armature 144 a nose 146 is arranged which projects rearwardly beyond the pin 143 and on which engages a tension spring 147, which on the other hand is anchored on the assembly plate 126 by means of a pin 14-8. The spring 147 has the tendency of tilting the armature 144 away from the coil 142, whereby the associated locking pawl 131 is rocked into an inoperative position, in which it does not lock the associated punch 120.

For each column of holes which may be arranged on the punched cards an assembly plate 126 with the elements 123148 is provided, as well as a row of punches 120. However, the perforated guide plates 121 may be in common to all punches.

Underneath the punches 120 and needles 123 there is arranged a horizontal plate 150 which is provided with holes 151 into which the punches 1211 and needles 123 can engage. This plate is, in a conventional manner, capable of being raised by means of a machine component 152 while remaining parallel to itself (translation movement) in order to bring a card placed on it in contact with the needles 123 or punches 1211, respectively. For the purpose of moving the cards away from the plate 150, two mutually cooperating rollers the frame 155, transverse bars 156 are inserted, which cooperate with the shoulders of the heads 122, in order to lower the latter, together with the punches 1211, into the position illustrated, when they have been pushed upwardly by a card.

Above the heads 127 of the needles 123, on carrier members 160 and 161 of the machine a device 162 is supported, from the bottom of which as many longitudinally shiftable pins 163 project, as in toto there are needles 123. Each of the pins 163 cooperates with one of the heads 127, and is under the action of a spring 164, which abuts on the one hand on a collar 165 of the pin, and on the other hand against a guide plate 166. The spring 164 has the tendency of pushing the pin 163, and thereby the needle 123, in a downward direction, as far as the collar 165 and the head 127 permit. The upper end of the pins 163 carries a cone 167 consisting of insulating material, by the aid of which two associated contact springs 168 can be spread apart upon an upward movement of the pin 163. These contact springs 168 are attached in a component 169 consisting of insulating material, and have contact elements 170 which are in contact with one another in the restposition of the springs. The elements 167, 168 and 170 form between themselves an electric switch, which can be opened by means of the associated needle 123 for the purpose of interrupting an electric circuit. For each needle 123 such a switch is provided.

The manner of operation of the punched card machine described is as follows:

A punched card to be sensed is pushed on to the plate 151) from the right hand side in Fig. 4, the correct position of the card in relation to the punches and needles 123 being secured by abutments not shown. Thereafter the plate 150 together with the punched card is moved upward until the latter bears against the lower guide plate 121. The lower ends of the needles 123 then enter already into the holes present in the card, and remain accordingly unaffected. The other needles, however, are pushed upward by the card, whereby the corresponding contacts 170 are opened. As previously explained through the contacts 170 that are not opened an electronic calculating machine, or any other machine apt to combine the data represented by the holes of two or more rows of the punched card, is operated and the output of this machine will energize some of the magnets 141, causing new holes to be punched in one or more unperforated rows of the card. In fact when the magnets 141 are not energised, the punches 1211, too, can be carried along in the upward movement of the card by the latter, without the said punches penetrating into the said card, insofar as the same has not been already provided with corresponding holes. When, however, for example the second magnet from the right is energised, the pawl 31 coupled to the armature 144 thereof is rocked into the locking position illustrated in the drawing, the locking face 134 of the pawl coming into engagement with the shoulder of the head 132 of the punch concerned. The second punch 120 from the right in the drawing is accordingly locked against an upward movement, and penetrates into the card upon an upward movement of the latter, whereby a hole is punched out. As soon as a new holev has been punched into the card, the needle 123 concerned returns to its rest position, the associated contact 170 being closed thereby. The machine is accordingly capable of sensing the card again immediately after having punched the same, which fact can be used for checking the perforation.

Between the first sensing and the punching of the card the same need not be displaced, but remains stationary on its place, which offers the possibility of continuing the steps of sensing and of punching as often as desired.

After each one of these steps the plate together with the card is lowered, the needles 123 and the punches 1211 emerging then from the holes of the card. By the aid of the rods 156 the punches 120 are restored to their starting position, and by the aid of the springs 164 likewise the needles 123.

The contact device 162 is exchangeableand can be replaced when necessary by-another in which the switches are for example openin their rest position, and are closed by the upward movement of the needles only. The device 162 could alternatively be so constructed that by the upward movement of the needles 123 at any time a beam of light is interrupted or deflected, which otherwise falls on to an associated photoelectric converter.

The advantage of the embodiment described hereinabove with reference to Fig. 4 of the punched card 'machine consists in that the locking pawls 131 cooperate directly with the heads 122, of the punches, whereby a lower structural height of the machine is made possible 'as compared with the 'case where between the heads of the punches and the locking pawls transmission members of different length are interposed, in order that the pawls can all be made of equal length, such as shown in the embodiment according to Figs. 1 to 3.

In view of the fact that the ratio of the lengths of the two lever arms is the same for all the locking pawls, the same length of stroke of the locking face 134 results for all pawls in spite of the different lengths thereof, 'when'the associated magnet 141 is energized or disenergised. 5

While I have herein described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings what may be considered typical and particularly advantageous embodiments of my said invention I wish-it to be understood that I do not limit myself to the particular details and dimensions described and illustrated.

" What I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

' 1. A punched card machine comprising card supporting means, punching elements, each punching element having an associated sensing element depending below the punching element, the sensing elements and the punching elements being disposed in such a manner with respect fto the supporting means that the whole card can be {sensed in one sensing operation and that the whole card can be punched in a subsequent punching operation while said elements are moved upwardly by the card, the card being held in'a fixed position on the card supporting means during the sensing and punching operations, said sensing and punching elements being disposed -coaxially and axially movable relative to one another, locking pawls adapted tolock said punching elements against upward movement and not to interfere with said punching elements in the other position when in their operative position, each locking pawl having a locking surface, an abutting head being provided at the upper end of each of said punching elements to cooperate each with one "of said locking surfaces, all of said punching elements being of identical construction and being arranged in rows and columns, said locking pawls of each row having different length, electromagnets having armatures operating said locking pawls, said locking pawls having links in the form of rods linking said pawls to said armatures, -said links being all disposed in a plane parallel to said row and substantially at right angles to the length of said punching and sensing elements.

2. A punched card machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein said locking pawls have'the shape of twoarmed levers, the ratio of the distance between locking :surface and pivot center to the distance between the articulation point and pivot center'being the same for all docking pawls.

1 3. A punched card machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein the locking pawls of punching elements of one irow are of ditferent length, decreasing stepwise in the :direction to the electromagnets.

'4, A punched card machine comprising card supporting ineans, punchingelements and sensing elements, each 'punchingelement having a sensing element associated therewith and depending below the punching element,

we, the

said punching elements being bored through axially and said sensing elements extending through the axial bores in said punching elements, one punching element and one associated sensing element being provided for and facing each hole position on the card, means to hold the card in a fixed position on said card supporting means during the sensing and the punching operations, said punching and sensing elements being so mounted that they can be moved upwardly by the card, and a movable locking element associated with each punching element which in one position will lock the punching element against upward movement and in the other positions will not interfere with the upward movement of the punching element, in combination with electromagnets mounted on the stationary structure of the machine, armatures associated with said electromagnets and mechanically coupled to said locking elements, and electric contacts electrically connected into the circuits of said electromagnets and mechanically operated by said sensing elements.

5. A punched card machine comprising card supporting means, punching elements and sensing elements, each punching element having a sensing element associated therewith and depending below the punching element,

said punching elements being bored through axially and said sensing elements extending through the axial bores in said punching elements, one punching element and one associated sensing element being provided for and facing each hole position on the card, means to hold the card in a fixed position on said card supporting means during the sensing and the punching operations, said punching and sensing elementsbeing so mounted that they can be moved upwardly by the card, and a movable locking element associated with each punching element which in one position will lock the punching element against upward movement and in the other positions will not interfere with the upward movement of the punching element, in combination with electromagnets mounted on the stationary structure of the machine, armatures associated with said electromagnets and mechanically coupled to said locking elements, and electric contacts electrically connected into the circuits of said electromagnets and mechanically operated by said sensing elements, said sensing elements in their rest positions projecting beyond the ends of the respective punching elements to an extent sufiicient for said sensing elements to actuate said electric contacts when the ends of said sensing elements and said punching elements are flush with one another.

6. A punched card machine comprising card supporting means, punching elements and sensing elements, each punching element having a sensing element associated therewith and depending below the punching element, said punching elements being bored through axially and said sensing elements extending through the axial bores in said punching elements, one punching element and one associated sensing element being provided for and facing each hole position on the card, means to hold the card in a fixed position on said card supporting means during the sensing and the punching operations, said punching and sensing elements being so mounted that they can be moved upwardly by the card, and a movable locking element associated with each punching element which in one position will lock the punching element against upward movement and in the other positions will not interfere with the upward movement of the punching element, in combination with electromagnets mounted on the stationary structure of the machine, armatures associated with said electromagnets and mechanically coupled to said locking elements, electric contacts electrically connected into the circuits of said electromagnets and mechanically operated by said sensing elements, and links connecting said armatures to said locking elements,

said armatures being pivoted relative to said electromagnets. 7

7. A punched card machine comprising card supporting means, punching elements and sensing elements, each punching element having a sensing element associated therewith and depending below the punching element, said punching elements being bored through axially and said sensing elements extending through the axial bores in said punching elements, one punching element and one associated sensing element being provided for and facing each hole position on the card, means to hold the card in a fixed position on said card supporting means during the sensing and the punching operations, said punching and sensing elements being so mounted that they can be moved upwardly by the card, and a movable locking element associated with each punching element which in one position will lock the punching element against upward movement and in the other positions will not interfere with the upward movement of the punching element, in combination with electromagnets mounted on the stationary structure of the machine and disposed at a side to said punching elements and said sensing elements, armatures associated with said electromagnets and mechanically coupled to said locking elements, electric contacts electrically connected into the circuits of said electromagnets and mechanically operated by said sensing elements, and links positioned substantially at right angles to said punching elements and said sensing elements connecting said armatures to said locking elements, said armatures being pivoted relative to said electromagnets.

8. A punched card machine comprising card supporting means, punching elements and sensing elements, each punching element having a sensing element associated therewith and depending below the punching element, said punching elements being bored through axially and said sensing elements extending through the axial bores in said punching elements, one punching element and one associated sensing element being provided for and facing each hole position on the card, means to hold the card in a fixed position on said card supporting means during the sensing and the punching operations, said punching and sensing elements being so mounted that they can be moved upwardly by the card, and a movable locking element associated with each punching element which in one position will lock the punching element against upward movement and in the other positions will not interfere with the upward movement of the punching element, in combination with electromagnets mounted on the stationary structure of the machine with their longitudinal direction parallel to the axial direction of said punching elements and said sensing elements, armatures associated with said electromagnets and mechanically coupled to said locking elements, and electric contacts electrically connected into the circuits of said eletromagnets and mechanically operated by said sensing elements, and links connecting said armatures to said locking elements, said armatures being pivoted relative to said electromagnets.

9. A punched card machine comprising card supporting means, punching elements and sensing elements, each punching element having a sensing element associated therewith and depending below the punching element,

said punching elements being bored through axially and said sensing elements extending through the axial bores in said punching elements, one punching element and one associated sensing element being provided for and facing each hole position on the card, means to produce one single unidirectional displacement of said card supporting means toward said sensing and punching elements thereby to produce a sensing and a punching operation and another sensing operation subsequently during said single displacement, means to hold the card in a fixed position on said card supporting means during the sensing and the punching operations, said punching and sensing elements being so mounted that they can be moved upwardly by the card, and a movable locking element associated with each punching element which in one position will lock the punching element against upward movement and in the other positions will not interfere with the upward movement of the punching element.

10. A punched card machine comprising card supportting means mounted movably on the machine structure, punching elements and sensing elements guided in the machine structure, each punching element having a sensing element associated therewith and depending below the punching element, said punching elements being bored through axially and said sensing elements extending through the axial bores in said punching elements, one punching element and one associated sensing element being provided for and facing each hole position on the card, means to produce one single unidirectional displacement of said card supporting means toward said sensing and punching elements thereby to produce a sensing and a punching operation and another sensing operation subsequently during said single displacement, means to hold the card in a fixed position on said card supporting means during the sensing and the punching operations, said punching and sensing elements being so mounted that they can be moved upwardly by the card, stops on the machine structure and stops on said punching and said sensing elements, said stops on the structure and on said elements limiting the axial movement of said elements, springs biasing said elements toward said stops on the machine structure, and a movable locking element associated with each punching element which in one position will lock the punching element against upward movement and in the other positions will not interfere with the upward movement of the punching elements.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 782,500 Handwerck Feb. 14, 1905 1,170,078 Lea Feb. 1, 1916 1,732,982 Neville Oct. 22, 1929 1,788,694 Thomas Jan. 13, 1931 1,879,529 Schaaf Sept. 27, 1932 2,307,617 Braun Jan. 5, 1943 2,625,225 Wockenfuss Jan. 13, 1953 2,647,580 Connolly Aug. 4, 1953 

